Mounting device for truss pads



June 20, 1950 T, A, HERRON 2,512,018

MOUNTING DEVICE' FOR TRUSS PADS Filed June 4, 1949 40a. F II y T7, INVENTOR. F' 41 ,M 4&1,

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43 36 AT'roR/uE-ys Patented June 20, 1950- *UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" l MOUNTING DEVICE FOR TRUSS PADS Truman A. Herron, Indian Hill, Ohio, assignor to This invention relates to trusses of the ltype used extensively in the treatment of hernia and similar disorders, consisting of a flexible band or frame adapted to encircle the body and having one or more soft pads which are pressed bythe frame against the injury or protuberancen The present improvements relate particularly to an improved locking plate or hasp vby which' the pad may be mounted interchangeably upon different styles of frames conveniently and securely, with provisions for adjusting the position of the pad with respect to the frame.

Flexible truss frames in generalconstitute a metal band or loop including flexiblelimbs which are enclosed by a soft covering to prevent chafing, with an exposed pad mounting bar at one or more places for attachment of the pad. The frames are furnished commercially in two stand'- ard styles, one of whichprovides relativelywide pad mounting bars', slottedy to receive the pad attaching screws while the other style provides narrower unslotted mounting bars, in' this case the pad being mounted with its screws straddling the narrow bar section. In View of the various conditions encountered, it is necessary for the supplier to carry in stock av wide'variety of pads which may be installed upon thel standard frames to suit the needs of the individual. For this reason, it is important to provide a mounting structure which enables the supplier to mount quickly and conveniently the required pad or pads upon a selected frame of either style.

The commercial truss pad includes an internal clamping plate'having a pair of spaced screws threaded into the plate and extending outwardly, the plate being rotatablyv mounted to permit angular adjustments of'lthe padvThe padw'is mounted upon the bar byV placing the' pad. tothe inside of the bar with the screws extending outwardly, placing a locking plate or hasp against the outside of thebar to engage theheads'of the screws,1 then tightening'l the screws 4to p clamp the pad in place.

One form of interchangeablehasp is disclosed Y in the patent of Arthur'R. Bell, No. 2,108,521 which constitutes a hasp having open slotsto receive the mounting screws .of the pad andv arranged to permit the pad to be mounted upon either type of truss frame. y

The primaryobjects 4of the .present ,inventor have been to provide an interchangeable hasp structure whichis simpler yet stronger, which of the pad to the frame and which is devoid of zlili ySurgical Appliance Industries,l Inc., Cincinnati,

x l .Appueation June 4, 1949, seria1N0.97,147

1 1 claim. (ci. 12e-124) slots and sharp corners which tend to catch and damage the wearers clothing.

The improved structure constitutes a rectangular body having a pair of keyhole apertures at opposite ends to permit the hasp to be slipped directly over and engaged with the heads of the screws, the underside of the body including keys at opposite ends engageable with the slot of,a mounting bar to lock the hasp parallel to the bar, the underside also being provided with a transf verse groove between the apertures,v engageable with an unslotted -bar to lock the hasp at right angles to the bar. l f

-By eliminating the open slots formerly utilized, the body periphery is madesmooth and uninter-` rupted so .as not to interfere with the clothing and at lthe same Vtime to increase strength since the open slots weaken the body transversely. By placing thekeys at the ends of thehasp body instead of lintermediate the apertures, the effectiveness of the keys is increased since -the stability of the hasp increases with the spacing of the keys. Also, by the combination lofthe keyhole slots and keys, the overall length of the unit is decreased since the keys occupy the area alongside the-narrow portion of the keyhole apertures. Otherwise stated, the length ofthe body is determined by the spacing between the apertures, and by taking advantage of the slot contour, no increase in length is required to accommodate the keys. v1 y When the hasp is applied'to the slotted mounting bar, it is locked against angular-movementvby the keys and when applied to an unslotted bar it is locked against angular movement `by engagement of the bar with the transverse groove. 'The narrow ends of the keyhole apertures are provided with countersinksl into which the screw heads nest to lock screws and pad to the hasp in a positive manner in either installation. By reason-of the locking action of the countersinks, the "keys may be omittedentirely in an inter-l changeable hasp of cheaper construction although the locking effect, when applied to a 'slotted' bar, fis'lnot as rigid as that provided by the keys. f y Further features and advantages of y theim- 4proved hasp will be morefully apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings.

In tlrledrawings:y y vlliigurel vis afron-t elevation yoia trussshowing the improved hasp in its application to a L'slotted bar formountingthe pad.

'Figure 2l is a fragmentary". View"'similarl to Figure 6 is an enlarged view similar to Figurev,

showing the hasp in its application lto the fun'- slotted mounting bar.

Figure '7 is an enlarged 'tojp plan view 'of the hasp removed from the truss.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional View of the hasp taken on line 8 8, Figure.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional View of the hasp taken on line 9 9, Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a bottomjplan view further detailing the 'constructionofthe Iha'sp. y

Figure ll is a sectional view-similar to Figure 8, showing a hasp of thesame chara'cter'with `"the keys omitted.

Described 'with reference to Figure l, the truss frame is indicated generally 'at l5, the pad at IB, and the improved-clamping pl'ate or hasp lat The structural details of the frame,` with the exception of the mounting bar, are omitted since the present invention is coni'ned 'to vthe construction of the has'p and its cooperating relationship with the 'trame and pad. 'The 'frame consists of a flexible metal loop or lband structure shaped to encircle fthe 'body of the wearer under spring ftens'ion, including for this purpose, flexible limbs of flat spring 'stock arranged to be sprung apart to permit the unit to be slipped on conveniently. The limbs usually are `covered with soft leather zor fabric 'sheaths '2t `for comfort. Intermediate the lflexible lin-ibs there is provided a pad mounting bar 42| which may b'e an exposed section of the limbs but which preferably is a fairly rigid bar having its opposite ends V joined to the flexible limbs `lby 'rivets or screws.

In the irame structure illustrated in Figure '1, the mounting bar 2| is provided with elongated slots 22-2'2 for adjustably 'mounting one or two pads Hi, while in the 'forni shown in Figure "2, the mounting bar 23 is narrower than bar 2| and is devoid oi slots. The pad lcan be mounted at any point along the unslotted bar, while as applied to the slotted bar 2|, the pads are conned to the area delineated by the slots 22 22. By virtue of the ha'sp the same pad is adapted to 'ce mounted interchangeably either upon the slotted bar 21 or the bar '23 simply by 'shifting the hasp at right angles. As applied to 4the 'slotted bar '21, the hasp lies parallel with the bar, while in the case of the uhsl'otted bar 23, the hasp overlies the bar at right angles.

Described in detail with reference to the structure disclosed in Figures `1 to 5, the pad I6 is provided with an internal mounting plate 2l, formed .from sheet metal which plate includes a clamping disk 25 rotatably mounted against the inner surface of plate 24 by a `retainer 2B, the retainer 2'6 being lsecured to plate 24 by rivets 21. Pad IE, in general, constitutes a cover 2B, of leather or other soft material, enveloping suitable padding, such as foam rubber, indicated at 3|). The marginal edge of the cover 28 overlies the mounting plate 24, and a back cover 3|, formed preferably from stiff leather, is stitched to the cover 28 to enclose plate 24. The cover 3| and plate 24 include matching apertures 32 for passage of the mounting screws 33 33, the inner ends of which are in screwthreaded engagement in the internal clamping disk 25.

To the outside of the back cover 3| there is applied an external clamping disk 34, adapted to lie between cover 3| and the mounting bar 2| or 23 When the pad isplaced imposition against `the :inside lof a "mounting `bar. 'In this fposition, the screws l33 extend outwardly 'and the hasp is applied to the opposite side of the bar with the screws 33 passing through the hasp, the screw :heads 35 'being -seated against the hasp. When the screws are tightened, the internal clamping disk '25 is drawn 'into clamping engagement with the external clamping disk 34 which is backed up by the bar 'and hasp so that the assembly is -`rigidlyjoinedtogether. By virtue of the rotatable mounting of the internal rotatable disk 25, the

pad f6 can be angularly adjusted upon its axis and can be shifted longitudinally relative to the 'slo`t22 Yand clamped in adjusted position by tightlen'ing'th'e 'screws 33.

In "detail, has'p 'l 'l'co'nsists `ora rectangular body, fabricated from ybrass or ste'el and provided with a pair of keyhole apertures, each 4constituting a circular opening A36 of s'iifcien't 'size 'to 'pass -`over the head 35 oi screw 33, with a slot "31 'connected with but "narrower than the circular 'opening 3G, adapted to receive the shank 38 'of the screw so that the hasp Ymay v'be slipped upon the screws then shifted 'laterally to engage the heads. Each keyhole aperture includes also a 'countersink 'or recess Ilit formed in the -outer #face of the liasp, concentric (with the end of slot 3"|, to seat the screw heads (Figures 3 Aand 5) when the vhasp is in clamping position. In order to `lock the hasp against rotation there is provided at "opposite ends 'of the hasp, on its inner ia'ce, respective keys 41;*-41 '(s'e'e Figure 10'), adapted to nest in 'slot 22 as 'shown i'n Figure i5, the keys being substantially the same width Yas fthe slot, but slightly shorter than the thickness of the bar to prevent bottoming against the lexternal clamping 'di-sk 34.

The Tpad -IS is applied to the slotted mounting b'ar 2`| very `sim-ply by Tplacing the pad against the inside surface rof the bar with the screws 33 in place. The slot 422 is -s'ufciently wide to permit the heads 35 yof the screws to be slipped through the slot. Withthe screws projecting through the slot, the hasp H is applied to the outer surface of the bar by slipping it over the screws, the heads 35 passing through the large openings 36 3B. The hasp then is shifted laterally, engaging the ends of slots 3f| 31 against the yshank 38 'of the screws. This aligns the keys 4|-4| with slot '22 so that the hasp is guided into keyed engagement with the slot when it is placed 'against the surface of the mounting bar. Before the screws are tightened finally, the pad is adjusted to its proper longitudinal and angular position, then the screws are tightened to clamp the entire unit rigidly upon the bar 2| with the screw heads nested in the countersinks 4B. l

In the modied haspl structure shown in Fig ure l1, the keys 4| are omittedand the countersinks 40a may be `vmade slightly deeper as shown to increase the locking effect with respect to the screw heads. lin the preferred form, the keys 4| lock the hasp securely by engagement with the 'slots of the mounting bar 'so that the hasp locks the screws, whilev in the modied form the Vscrews themselves provide a lock to prevent vlateral displacement@ the' hasp. In the inedilied structure, the hasp is simpler and less costly of construction, while in the preferred structure the attachment is more positive and secure, therefore, the modified structure is utilized in cases where it is necessary to reduce costs.

When the pad is applied t a truss frame having an unslotted mounting bar, the pad is positioned against the bar 'with the screws 33 straddling the opposite sides of the bar. The hasp is applied by slipping it over the heads of the screws in the manner above noted, then shifting it to engage the shank 38 of the screws in the slots 31 with the heads seated in the countersinks 40. When the screws are drawn up the screw heads will lock the hasp positively against displacement by engagement in the :countersinks and the hasp is locked against angular movement at right angles to bar 2l by engagement of the bar in the transverse groove 4'2 formed in the hasp between the apertures 36-36 (Figures 8 and 10). This arrangement permits the truss pad I6 to be adjusted to desired position longitudinally of the mounting bar and to be rotated angularly to a desired condition before tightening the screws. The hasp unit therefore may be used interchangeably with either type of mounting bar and provides a very rapid and convenient means for mounting the pads.

By virtue of the simplicity of design, the hasp can be manufactured cheaply either by machining or by forging or die casting. By virtue of the keyhole apertures located within the confines of the hasp body, in combination with the locking keys located advantageously within the confines of the keyhole slots, the hasp is made more com.. pact and has the additional advantage of increased strength since the apertures make it unnecessary to cut slots into the hasp. In other words, the apertures .provide a connecting web i3 at the margin of the hasp which greatly strengthens the unit and at the same time eliminates sharp corners upon which the clothing may catch. When the screws 33 are nally tightened with their heads 35 nested in the countersinks lli! and the keys 4| locked in the slot 22, the hasp itself is locked positively against angular displacement and the hasp in turn locks the screws positively against lateral shifting and loosening, thus providing a more positive rigid attachment of the pad.

When the hasp is placed upon the narrow mounting bar, the transverse groove 42 of course locks the hasp against angular movement and the screws and pad are positively locked against shifting with respect to the hasp by virtue of the nested engagement of the screw heads in the countersinks. Thus, there is no possibility of the |pad shifting except by loosening the screws to disengage their heads. Both hasp forms operate the same as applied to the unslotted bar, the countersinks 43 or 40a establishing a positive lock between the screws and hasp. Both forms of the hasp provide maximum compactness and can be applied with equal speed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A device for mounting a truss pad interchangeably upon a slotted or unslotted mounting bar, the pad including a pair of headed mounting screws each having a reduced shank portion, the device comprising: a hasp having a, pair of keyhole apertures each constituting an enlarged opening for passing the hasp over the heads of the mounting screwsrand each keyhole aperture including an elongated slot of reduced width connected with the enlarged opening to receive the shank of the associated screw, the end of each said slot having a recess which is formed in the outer surface of the hasp to receive the head of the screw in nested engagement therewith when the hasp is shifted laterally, the under surface of the hasp being provided with keys at opposite ends thereof adapted to fit into the slot of a mounting bar to lock the hasp against angular movement with respect to the bar, each of said keys being located between an end of the hasp and the slot of one of said keyhole apertures, the under surface of the hasp including a transverse groove adapted to nest with an unslotted mounting bar to lock the hasp against angular movement with respect to the bar, the hasp being locked against shifting relative to the screws by the nested engagement of the screw heads with said recesses.

TRUMAN A. HERRON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 456,823 House July 28, 1891 1,051,325 Haile Jan. 21, 1913 2,108,521 Bell Feb. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 859,183 France May 27, 1940 

